Catchin' Up

Oh the woes of having a blog. Feeling the pressures of keeping it updated and making a post sound witty and charming so those 5 people reading the post will actually be entertained. Sadly this past month has been so busy and with every activity I participate in I find myself asking, "Is this blog worthy?" So now that I have put so much pressure into this very post, enjoy!

The past month has been focusing mainly on getting a new school year started. I love the school I work at, I love the people I work with, I love the many jobs I do there, and of course I love the kids that attend good 'ole Westside Elementary. So I haven't minded spending quite a bit of time there this summer. So far I have helped new teachers get their rooms ready, I have organized schedules for anything and everything, started pulling test data together for teachers, and the highlight of my first week of school... organized bus schedules. Usually organizing bus schedules isn't too big of deal but when the Bus Shop changes the bus routes almost every day it makes it hard to get the kids home on the right bus. I think we have finally solved the problem, but this week has definitely been memorable.

Here I am in my office smiling at the job I love on the outside. But on the inside...I am cursing all things related to school buses and bus lists.

Even though I lot of my time has been spent at the school I have still found some time for fun. I have hung out with friends at various singles' activities and man I wish I had footage of some of the people at these parties. I overheard conversations about children graduating from high school, someone just got out of their 3rd marriage, saw more grey hair than any other color, and any socially awkard habit you can think of I either had the pleasure of watching from afar or watching right in from me. This is what my life has become! I am being a tad rude I guess but seriously, if I have to go to too many more of these kind of social activities I may just get a cat and stay home on Friday nights.

Below are some pictures of things I wanted to take pictures of because I was with dear friends doing normal things.

This is my friend Anelise rockin' it on stage. It was great to see her in concert!


Anelise's groupies: Liz, Dave, and me. I have such cute friends!

Yep, I ate this! A friend took me to try Sushi for the first time. This is technically the kind he got, but I ate something similar! And it wasn't that bad, I will try some again!

Family Time in Florida

So I made the annual summer visit to the family in Florida (although I didn't visit last summer because I was in DC, and one summer we were in South Carolina, so I guess it isn't really an annual summer visit). I of course was very excited to see my cute family, their new dog, and maybe it is sad to say, but I was really excited to see the nice pool and backyard that my dad so meticuously takes care of. We did normal family things, BBQ, bowling, lots of movies, walking the dog at night, relax and enjoy being together. I made sure to spend quality time with the pool everyday reading a good book so the pool felt like it was getting family time too.

One reason I was really excited to come to Florida this summer is because I wanted to be the first of my friends on the West Coast to go to the new Harry Potter World. I was going to be famous! Well sadly we heard from several sources the lines at Harry Potter World were very, very long and with it being very, very hot I didn't want to be famous for passing out from heat exhaustion in a line for the bathroom or something silly like that. So no Harry Potter World this visit, but my cute mom still wanted me to do something fun so we went to Orlando for a girls' day. We saw my cousin, Corie and her super cute boy, Cody. We did lots of shopping although I had like 6 bags and my mother had none, she is so strong! Then we topped off the day by going to Universal Studios to see the Blueman Group. It was a very entertaining show and had more illusion/magic stuff than I thought it would. That kind of stuff drives me crazy because I sit there and try to figure out how they do everything rather than just enjoy the show. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed! They had super fun music, comedy, and the best toilet paper audience fight ever!

And now, enjoy family time in Florida through pictures:

This was my daily view. I would sit, enjoy my book and look over at the lovely scenery my dad has landscaped all by himself! He is very talented.

Family BBQ! We got the grandparents, the parents, the brother and his girlfriend. We're all here!

My family all bowls on actual Bowling Leagues and are super good. But with my dad as my bowling coach I was able to beat my mom!

This is the new family pet, Rico. My parents insist on calling him my new brother. Lame I know! I tried to call him Mia the whole time because he looks like my old dog. Either way he was a pretty cute doggie!

My mom and I got to go to lunch with Corie and Cody. Corie is the oldest cousin so we of course all look up to her. :) And she has one cute little man!

Here they are, the famous Blue Men. You weren't supposed to take pictures so don't tell anyone I have this!

Mom and I after the show. They really did have televisions as heads for part of the show. It was very entertaining!

This was the closest I got to Harry Potter World. Kind of sad, but once the excitement of it dies down, I'll be back!

Sometimes Life is Hard

I am sure this picture may make the title of this blog somewhat misleading. But I stand by my title, sometimes life kinda sucks even when chillin' in a pool. Let me get personal for a moment and use this post to share that the past few weeks have been kind of hard for me, agency wise. At the moment I am not really a fan of the whole agency idea. I made some judgements and choices that have caused me to lose out on a good opportunity. And when trying to make that opportunity available, another person's agency thwarted my plan. So now when my agency and another person's agency doesn't match up I am left feeling kind of alone. And no matter how hard I may try to convince that person their choice is wrong and my way is right, in the end we all have our own agency and it sure stinks that I can't control other people. You are probably reading this and thinking I sound very selfish. I know, it is a weakness of mine. I of course recognize the many positive outcomes and blessing that come from having free agency, but I am allowed to frown at it everyonce in awhile too right? I guess I can say I have learned a lot from these past few weeks... I have learned that you can miss out on some great things when you wrongly judge others, I can't manipulate other people's agency, focusing on my own happiness and my relationship with my Savior is the way to turn a hard life into a happy one. I have been reading this quote everyday lately and have taken it as my theme for the moment:

"Greatness is best measured by how an individual responds to the happenings of life that are totally unfair, unreasonable, and underserved." -Marvin J. Ashton

City Girl Makes a Comeback

It has been a year since this blog was first created to document my summer in the big city. So it is only right I return to the place that inspired my desire to blog one year later. I arrived in Washington DC to the smile and laughter of my dear roommate, Patti and we quickly got caught up on all the important stuff... boys, jobs, boys, and life in the city. The entire evening my DC roommates and I laughed, danced, sang, and were just as silly as the day I had left. It truly felt like I had not just spend the past year away from them. We all just stepped right back into our roles as silly girls.

The rest of the weekend we attended a Midsingles Conference and the fact I have nothing to really say about it should give you a good picture of how exciting it was. I did go on a lovely boat ride down the Potomac River, saw some fireworks which were interrupted by plane takeoffs at least 5 times, and ate lots of yummy food. The return to the city wasn't life changing or monumental in anyway, I didn't even touch foot on National Mall ground(feel free to gasp in astonishment). This city girl was more of a homebody this go around and enjoyed spending time with some of the coolest people I know. I didn't become nostalgic about the Trader Joe's Animal Crackers, the traffic everywhere we went, and the fact that Jason's Deli has real ice cream in DC. The Jason's Deli here has ice milk, yuck!

I have been asked again if I would ever move to Washington DC. My answer is sadly the same... I love the city, I love the adventure and the shopping, but I love my job here in Utah and I think I would have the same frustrations with my social life there as I do here. So I am a city girl at heart living the dream of a suburbian reality.


This is what we did all weekend... laugh a lot!


An evening on the Potomac River with friends. It was a beautiful evening!


The last day I was there we got together for a final lunch. The lunch was so yummy and it was a perfect end to the vacation...food and friends, really all I need in life.


This is the Flourless Chocolate Waffle dessert at the Sweetwater Restaurant. It may be the best thing I have tasted ever!! I don't know why it is called Flourless Chocolate Waffle, nothing was "less" about it.

All You Ever Wanted to Know About a Staff Developer

You know the classic question us single folks get asked at every get to know you activity... "So what do you do?" I love saying, "I am a Staff Developer for an Elementary School." And then without fail, "What's that?" Well of course I say technically I am the assistant principal, but there is so much more to my job then being my principal's right hand gal. As the Staff Developer the main part of my job is to run the Title I Program at our school. Because our school population is more than 50% lower income families, we receive Federal Funds to allow for additional staff and support for these students. That's where I come in. I train and supervise all support staff, mentor new teachers, provide professional development for faculty and staff, create schedules, organize playground supervision, and handle anything else that may arise during the day. Are you impressed yet?

Well along with all those other things I am required to document the ways we use the Federal monies and support in what is lovingly called THE BINDER. Throughout the year I am collecting documents on Student Data, Parent Involvement, Staff Development, Federal Programs we have at our school, and a whole lot of other stuff. I thought I would impress you all by showing you the binder and helping you to see that I don't just sit around and blog all day at work. Do you feel like you know Miss Day a little more now?


Front view of THE BINDER


Side view of all the trees I have killed this past year. Is this the biggest binder you have ever seen?!

Stadium of Fire

The symbols of summer for me... Sun, BBQs, Twist Cones, and Stadium of Fire. For many years I have watched this grand fireworks show from afar wondering what was really happening inside the Stadium of Fire. What was I missing? I felt like a poor peasant woman watching from outside the grand Colusseum, wishing I could be with the rich aristocrats feasting on fun inside. Well this year I got the upperclass ticket, I was entering the Lavell Edwards Stadium to feast on the fun of Stadium of Fire! I have to admit spending money to see fireworks hasn't really excited me in past years. But this year Carrie Underwood was coming to celebrate July 4th with me. I enjoy Carrie Underwood and feel like we could be friends someday so I decided to put out the money and support my future friend and see the fireworks spectacular on the INSIDE.

I was not disappointed, there was singing, dancing, a flyover by some fancy jets, and of course, Carrie. The Osmond Second generation and some piano kids were also showcased at this event, but I was there for Carrie. I am pretty sure the Entertainer of the Year was holding back, but I was entertained nonetheless. I would totally spend lots of money to see her full show.

The fireworks were splendid, we had a great view, and of course my friends were a great addition to the evening. I can now join the Utah County throng of millions whose lives have been changed by celebrating the birth of their country through song, dance, and fireworks! There is even a song... Stadium of Fire! Duh(pause) Duh,Duh!


Here we are getting ready for the big event! Don't we look like we love our country!


Carrie Underwood belting out the tunes. She is so cute and lovely. I am awaiting her Facebook Friend confirmation. (Fingers crossed!)



View from the INSIDE! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!


The whole gang! We had a BBQ earlier and then the Stadium of Fire. We celebrated good!

Spending Time with the Kiddos

This past weekend I had many opportunities to get in touch with my motherly side. I was able to help my dear friend Sarah with her children again this weekend. Jacob is 2 and has the best smile ever and Eliana is 3 months and also has a dang cute smile complete with dimples. I played with Jacob at the pool on Friday and while at times it was a little stressful knowing Sarah might not like it if I injured her child in some way, more often it was great fun. Jacob took a liking to jumping into the pool from the side and I would hold his hand and help him jump in or he would jump to me. His laughter was contagious and I really didn't mind helping him jump in again and again and again.

Most of the weekend I helped out by holding Eliana while Sarah kept track of Jacob. He loves his momma so much and gets the biggest grin every time he sees her, even if he had been crying about something 2 seconds before! So it was a hard life holding a sweet baby, but I muddled through. She started smiling for me and it was adorable. I loved making her smile and laugh in a newborn kind of way. If I was a really excellent friend I would have helped change diapers and such too, but really I am more the I will play with your kids kind of friend, the dirty stuff is up to you.

I rounded out my weekend of kids by attending our ward Primary Activity on Saturday morning. I am the Sunbeam teacher now so I helped them rotate through the different Pioneer activities. I adore my Sunbeams and am probably biased but think we have the best primary class. These kids are smart, super cute, and we can keep them entertained for quite some time by playing Reverent Ball. (I can teach you this very popular game if you would like.) They had a blast shaking a jar to make butter, playing Stick Pull with Joseph Smith, and just generally running around the field.

So a weekend with children aged 3 and under took me out of my comfort zone a bit since I tend to enjoy children who can read and tie their own shoes a little more, but dang little kids sure know how to love and I love to be loved!


Three cute sunbeams equals one big smile for me!



Jacob was playing hide and seek with his mum(she is Canadian so I have to say mum). The best part was she didn't know about the game, but he was being a great hider!


I know you are all jealous that I spent time with this adorable lady all weekend! You can't see the dimples too well, but they are there.


I know, I know.